Improvement in portable farm-fences



UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. KEY, OF COMO, MISSISSIPPI.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FARM-FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,872, dated September 8, 1874; application filed June 22, 1874.

two essentially-different parts-the rails and the improved connection for the samewhich consists of two symmetrically-formed sections made of inclined stakes, to which are attached strips o'f stuff varying in length from about three feet at the bottom to one foot at the top. Said stakes cross each other at about eighteen inches from the top end, and are braced by a rail resting in the fork formed thereby. Said strips are securely fastened at one end to the stake, and as they incline toward the earth the strips of one stake cross those of the other, forming thereby locks, into which the rails are placed.

In the drawing, A represents the inclined stakes about eight feet in length, having the strips B permanently attached at one end and free at the other. Said strips are preferably made of stud' one inch thick by two wide, and vary in length according to the position upon the stake, the bottom ones beingrabout three feet, and the top ones about one. C represents the ra-ils, which are fastened in the locks formed by the crossed strips, and D the rail that rests in the fork formed by the stakes.

The manner of construction and manipulation of this fence is as follows:

The stakes A are first prepared of such a material and strength as is required, and the strips B nailed securely on at one end. Said strips are disposed upon the stake far enough apart to admit of a rail between, and at such an angle as may be desired. rIhe nearer a right angle the wider the stakes will be set apart at the bottom; the closer the rails, and the harder it will be to overturn the fence. The more acute the angle the farther the rails will be apart and the taller the fence. The two symmetrical sections thus formed are then set up against each other, and the strips allowed to cross each other far enough to form two sets of locks, one for the after end of the rails of one section of fence, and the other for the front end of the rails of the other section of the fence. The rider or top rail is then placed in the fork formed by the stakes and the rails inserted into the locks.

To transportthis fence, the rails are rst taken out like bars, and then the sections taken down, the latter being so constructed to admit of close packing.

By means of thissimple arrangement is constructed a portable fence which possesses advantages never yet obtained by any other. Thev rails neither cross nor touch each other, and consequently do not decay from contact f as do other rail fences.

If a rail decay, it may be taken out without discomposing the others; in fact a whole section of rails may be taken out to admit of the passage of a team when desired, inasmuch as the rails slide in the locks like bars.

By the diiferent inclination of the strips upon the stakes, the fence may be made staunch and close, or tall and open, as may be desired. Any kind of scraps of timber or poles may be used in its construction, and an old rail fence may easily be reconstructed by simply using these connections instead of posts with the old rails.

By nailing the strips together after the fence is constructed, the strongest kind of a stationary fence is made, and one that will more effectually resist an overflow or high wind than any other.

In addition to its other advantages it isv cheap, few nails being used in its construction, easily understood, and rapidly constructed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new. is

In a portable fence, the strips B, of graduated length, fastened to4 the stakes A at one end only, in combination with a symmetrical set of strips attached at one end to a similar stake, for the purpose of forming locks for rails by crossing each other transversely, substantially as described.

WILLIAM CRAWFORD KEY.

Witnesses:

R. T. KEY, EDGAR FITZJERALD. 

